Neil Reagan, Ex-president's Only Brother

SAN DIEGO — Neil Reagan, former President Ronald Reagan's older and only brother, died Wednesday in a San Diego hospital. He was 88 and lived in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

Mr. Reagan, a retired advertising executive and radio and television director, was known as "Moon" to many family members and friends, a nickname derived from the "Moon Mullins" comic strip character while he was on the football team in high school.

Three years older than his brother, he was a spirited, easy-going man with a whimsical sense of humor.

Before retiring in 1973 as a senior vice president of the McCann-Erickson advertising agency, Mr. Reagan had spent more than 40 years in advertising and and the broadcast industry.

He was, among other things, a director of the hit radio series, "Dr. Christian," with Jean Hersholt, for nearly 20 years.

He also directed his brother in the television show "Death Valley Days."